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Gaming? In a School Library? August 27, 2006

Posted by charris in : Hot Topics , trackback

Stop. Before reading any further, take a moment to examine the mental picture that enters your head when you think about “gaming.”

My guess is that it means many different things to different people. For a teacher-librarian working in the Las Vegas school system, a mental image of “gaming” probably includes lots of flashing lights and dings from slot machines. Others may remember the controversy about “gaming” from the 1980’s epitomized by the classic beginning to the movie ET: socially misunderstood, pimply-faced teens sitting around with pizza and Mountain Dew as they played Dungeons and Dragons. Some of you may have seen a child of today - disengaged with the world, but enraptured by the handheld gaming device he or she carries everywhere.

So what is gaming? And why, despite the controversies and issues that continue to surround games and gaming, do we need to talk about this on a school library blog? The short answer to both of those questions is basically “gaming is ubiquitous.” Please excuse this divergent use of a current buzzword, but ubiquitous is a great word that so aptly portrays the “everywhereness” of gaming.

This series of posts will explore gamers, gaming, and games with a focus on how and why this conversation is important for school libraries. This is not a call to action, but rather an opportunity to build awareness about something that keeps popping up in different places.

Comments»

1. Beatrice Gerrish [Visitor] - September 7, 2006

I am a new high school librarian, married to a teacher who is an avid gamer. He has strongly encouraged me to consider allowing gaming in the library. My understanding is that in the past, the staff was concerned about the amount of noise and distruption this may cause. Has anyone tried it? Any tips? Warnings?

Thanks!

2. Marna Watkins [Visitor] - September 8, 2006

I am curious as to what would be accomplished with gaming??
Marna

3. Christopher Harris [Member] - September 11, 2006

Beatrice: The next post will talk about the different types of gaming that can be used in libraries. Some are certainly louder, and are much more suitable to a program outside of school hours.

Marna: Sneak preview on the third post in the series…Gaming environments engage the brain on a chemical response level in a way that few other activites can.

4. Mary [Visitor] - September 12, 2006

I allow gaming. No one came to the library until I let them in to “game”. Now the place is crowded. School work has preference for the computers. We have a mixed crowd now. Students are even coming in to read or do group assignments. My theory has been: you have to get them in the door….. then they’ll use the library.

5. Donna Milner [Visitor] - October 1, 2006

What games would be suitable for elementary students?

6. Christopher Harris [Member] - October 1, 2006

Donna,

A later post on gaming in libraries addresses some possibilities.

Highlighted in there are two card games, Quiddler and Fluxx. Quiddler is a word game played with cards that would work for grades 3 and up. Fluxx might be 4th grade and up. I know there have also been many different library games created as ways to teach skills, but I have really been focusing on games as an information literacy skill themselves.